Dispensing mechanism for vending machines



blind..

July 28, 1959 Filed` Aug. 27, 1956 lFIGLI.v

A. W. HOLSTEIN DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28, 1959 A. w. HoLsTExN DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1959 A. w. HOLSTEIN msPENsmG MEcHANrsM Foa vENDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2v, 195e 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG .7.

DIsPENslNG MEcHAN-ISM FoR vnNnrN MACHINES Alvin W. Holstein, Lemay, Mo., assignor 'to National Vendors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 27,- ',1956, Serial No. 606,434 16 Claims. `(Cl. 221-90) tion of Robert D` Stayton, Serial No.. 547,485, led

November 17, 1955, for Dispensing Mechanism for Vending Machines.

Among the several objects of the .invention may be noted the provision of an improved dispensing mechanism of the class above mentioned and of the general type shown in said copending application which is so constructed as to reduce the friction in the mechanism whereby easier and more reliable operation of the tiltable shelves is obtained; the provision of a mechanism of this class in which each shelf carries a movable. catch enlgageable with a lixed part for holding the shelf in a generally horizontal article-carrying position, the arrangement being such that when the. catch of any shelf is released and the shelf swings downward, it carries its catch along with it; the provision of a mechanism of this class in which each shelf, together with the catch carried thereby, is readily removable in its entirety from the mechanism, so that a damaged shelf or a shelf with a damaged catch may be readily removed andreplaced;

and the provision of a mechanism of the class described which is economical to manufacture. Other objects and features will be in partv apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the inventionbeing indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in' which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a magazine embodying this invention, a central portion of the magazine being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the magazine, a central portion of the magazine again being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the magazine, on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2, a portion being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-'4 of Fig. 3 and showing the upper three shelves of the mechanism,

ythe uppermost shelf and the second shelf down from the x Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal section takenY on line n AUrlitfrd .States Iflllflt'V r' l e 2,896,817

.Patented yJuly 28, 19.159

. 2. v Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9`of Fig. 3. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a magazine embodying this invention is designated .in its entirety by the reference character M. .The magazine is shown to comprise a frame or support generally designated 1 supporting a plurality of pivoted article-carrying shelves. The frame or support 1 comprisesa vertical sheet metal channel member 3- and a vertical side plate 5.y The sidellanges of the channel member arev designated v7 and 9. .The web of the channel member, which constitutes the back ofthe magazine M, is designated 11. This has a plurality of rectangular openings 12. The vertical .side plate 5 is secured to the outside 4of :the :flange 9v of the channel 3. Thisl plate 5 has an outwardly offset portion 13. forward of the flange 9. They channel 3 islonger than theplate `S andvextends ydown below the lower edge lofthe plate.

vvThe article-carryingshelves are located one above .the other. For simplifying the disclosure, onlysixshelves are shown in Figs. l and 2.', It will bel understood, however, that a commercial embodiment'of Ithe magazine willhave` more than six-shelves. For example, a typical commercial magazine will have twenty shelves.y The shelves, whiclrarel all identical, are generally designated by the reference character 15, the bottom shelfy being specially .designated 15b andthe top, shelflSt.y -Each shelf is pivotally mounted at its rearward .end between the flanges 7 ,and 9 of the channel 3 for swinging movement on ahorizontal axis, by means .of a special hinge member 17 to be described. I

Each shelf, which is preferably a one-piece plastic molding,jhas an integral downwardly directedflange -19 lat its'rearwardend. Integrallymolded reinforcing ribs for the shelf are indicated at 21 and. 23. Ateach of the lower corners of the flange 19, and on the back of the flange, hinge eyes v2S and27 are provided for the hinge member 17. These may, be molded as integral partsvof the shelf. Hinge `member 17 comprises, a piece of spring wire, bent sovv as to have a loop portion 29. of inverted U- shape, and horizontal hinge vpin portions 31 and 33 which extend laterally .outward from the vends of the. sides.- of Y the loop portion. Pin 31 is slidablyl received in the eye 2,5, and p in 33 is slidably received in the eye 27. As to each yof the shelves, pin 31vis.` slidably and rotatably received in al hole. 35 in the flange 7 of channelSVand pin 33 is slidably and rotatably received in a hole 37 in the flange 9. Also, for each of the shelves,the sideA plate 5 has a yhole 39 in line 'with the hole 3.7 for receiving the pin 33. j

The loop 29 extends upward .on the back of the shelf Yliange 19 and ,is confined against swinging outward away from the flange Y19 by having one of vrits sides received in a notch 41 ina lug 43 which projects rearward from the back of the flange. 19. vThis lug may be molded as an integral part ofthe` shelf. The lower end of 4the stated side of the loop is engageable with a stud .45 whlch projects rearward from the `back of flange .19. This stud maybe molded as any integral .part of the shelf. The flange 19 has an opening 47. forv access to they other side of the loop from4 the front of flange 19. The yarrangement is such that a tool, such as ascrew driver, may be inserted in thev opening. 47 from, the front for pushing the accessible side of the ,loop toward its Aother side to retract the pin 31 p. fromlthe hole 35 v for removal of the shelf from between the channel anges 1 and 9.' v

On the back -of the ange ..19Vof each shelf, below the lug 43, is a lug 49. Lug 49,'1ike 1u`g43, lmay' be molded as an integral partof the shelf. llhese lugs` 43 vand 449'carry a metal bushing 51 (see Fig. 9,"p'a1ticulrly) for the pivotal mounting on the back of the flange 19 of a catch 53 and a trip 55 for the catch. The bushing extends parallel to the flange 19 in a plane perpendicular to the ange 19, being received in suitable openings in the lugs and having its ends projecting from the lugs. The catch 53 comprises a sheet metal stamping having an ear 57 overlying the upper lug 43. This ear is provided with an opening lreceiving the upper end of the bushing 51. The catch is also formed to have a bottom arm 59 underlying the lower lug 49 and provided with an opening receiving the lower end of the bushing. Above the ear 57, the catch has `an upper arm 61 in the form of a hook. The trip 55 consists of a length of metal rod bent to have a portion 63 which is rotatably received in the bushing 51, a laterally projecting upper arm 65, a portion 67 extending downward from the outer end of arm 65, and an angled feeler arm 69 at the lower end of portion 67 below the level of the bottom of the ange 19.

The catch 53 is biased in clockwise direction as viewed from above (and as viewed in Fig. 3) by a spring 71 to the latching position shown best in Figs. 3 and 5 wherein the hook 61 extends rearward `generally perpendicular to the ange 19. This position of the catch is determined by engagement of a portion 73 of the catch with the back of the ange 19. The portion 67 of the trip 55 is engageable with the bottom arm 59 of the catch. The trip is biased in clockwise direction as viewed from above (and as viewed in Fig. 3) by a spring 75 (see Figs. 4 and 7). The bias of spring 75 is weaker than that of spring 71.

The hook 61 of the catch 53 of each shelf is engageable with a lug 77 which extends inward from the vflange 9 of thechannel 3. There is a separate lug 77 for each catch, the lugs being formed by striking inward portions of the ange 9. With a catch in the latching position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and-with the respective hook 61 engaging the respective lug 77, the respective shelf is held latched in the horizontal article-carrying position such `as is shown in Fig. 1 for all the shelves and as shown in Fig. 4 for the two top shelves.

For operating the trips 55 to operate the catches 53 to release the shelves, there is provided a rotary member 79 which extends vertically within the channel 3 in back of the shelves. This member 79 consists of a sheet metal angle bar having pivot pins 81 and 83 welded to its upper and lower ends. The pin 81 is journaled in a lug 85 struck in from the back of the channel 3 near the upper end of the channel, and the pin 83 is journaled in a lug 87 struck in from the back of the channel near the lower end of the channel. The bar 79 has a plurality `of lingers 89 for engagement with the lateral arms 65 of the trips 55. p

On the back of the ange 19 of each shelf is a cam 91. This may be molded as an integral part of the shelf. As to each shelf (except the uppermost shelf), when it is held by its catch 53 in its raised article-carrying position, its cam 91 engages the feeler 69 of the trip 55 of the next shelf above to hold this trip in a retracted position such as is shown for the shelf t in Fig. 3. As to each shelf (except the lowermost shelf), its trip 55 is released for movement under the bias of spring 75 from the retracted positionto an operative position such as is shown in Fig. 5 when the next shelf below is released from its raised article-carryingposition and swings downward. When a trip 55 is in its retracted position, its lateral arm 65 lies clear ofthe path of movement of the respective finger 89 on the trip-operating bar 79. When a trip 55 is in its operative position (the shelf which carries the trip being in the raised position), the lateral arm 65 of the trip is positioned for engagement by the respective linger 89 on the1bar 79 (see Fig. 5). A f

The trip-operatingbar 79 normally occupies the retracted position in which'it is shown in solid lines in Fig.

3. Means is provided for rotating the bar in counterclockwise direction away from this retracted position as Vviewed from above (and as viewed in Fig. 3) to a position such as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3, and then back to retracted position for operating a trip 55. As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 8, this means comprises a lever 93 pivoted at 95 on the outside of the ange 9 of channel 3 adjacent the lower end of the channel. An ejector bar 97 has its rearward end pivotally connectedto the upper end of the lever '93, as indicated at 99, and extends upward and forward on the outside of portion 13 of plate 5 through a guide strap 101 struck outward from portion 13 of plate 5. A lever 103 is pivoted at 105 on a lug 107 struck in from the ange 7 of channel 3 for swinging movement on a vertical axis. Lever 103 extends through a slot 109 in flange 9 of channel 3 into a hole 111 in lever 93. A lever 113 is pivoted at 115 on a lug 117 struck in from the back of channel 3 adjacent the ange 9 for swinging movement on a vertical axis in a plane above lever 103. Lever 113 has a cam slot 119. Lever 103 carries a cam follower roller 121 which extends into the slot 119. A triangular plate 123 constituting a crank is welded to the lower end of bar 79. A link 125 is pivotally connected atone end, as indicated at 127, to the free end of lever 113, and at its other end to the crank 123 by means of a crank pin 129.

The ejector bar 97 and the lever 93 normally occupy the rearward retracted position in which they are shown in Fig. l. With bar 97 and lever 93 in retracted position, the trip-operating bar 79 is in its retracted position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8. On pulling out the ejector bar 97, lever 93 is swung forward (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1). This swings lever 103 forward (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8). The roller 121 on lever 103 acts to swing lever 113 forward (counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8), and lever 113 acts through the link 125 to rotate the trip-operating bar 79 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5, away from its retracted position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3. On return of the ejector bar to its rearward retracted position (as by pushing it back), the tripoperating bar 79 is rotated in clockwise direction back to its retracted position.

Means is provided for locking the entire mechanism out of operation when the top shelf 15t has been released. As shown best in Figs. l and 4, this means comprises a latch 131 mounted for vertical sliding movement on the outside of flange 9 of channel 3 adjacent its lower end.

The mounting of this latch is elected by means of screws 133 extending through vertical slots 135 in the latch and threaded in ange 9. Pivoted at 137 on the inside of the flange 9 of channel 3 adjacent its upper end is a bell crank lever 139. One arm 141 of this lever extends downward for engagement by the back of the ange 19 of the top shelf '15t when this shelf is in its raised articlecarrying position (see Fig. 4). The other arm 143 of this lever extends rearward and has a linger 145 which projects laterally outward through an opening 147 in flange 9 and plate 5. A wire 151 connects linger 145 and the latch 131. When the shelf 15t is in raised position, the bell crank lever 139 is held in the position shown in Fig. 4 and acts through the wire 151 to hold the latch in the raised position shown in Fig. l. When the shelf 151? is released, the bell crank lever is released and the latch Y slides down under its own weight into a position wherein it blocks the lever 93 from swinging forward, thereby locking the mechanism out of operation.

It will be understood a plurality of magazines, such as above described, are mounted side-by-side in a vending machine cabinet v(not shown) and that push-pull rods are provided which extend out of the front of the cabinet for actuating the ejector bars 97 of theV magazines. In a typical vending machine in which the magazines are used,

tion. Accordingly, means is provided for, swinging the mi i..

lowermost shelf 15b back into its raised horizontal position whichis readily accessible. As shown best in Figs. Vl and 2, this means comprises a lever 153 pivoted at 155 on the inside of the flange 9 of channel 3 toward the lower end of the channel. A lever 157 is pivoted at 159 on the inside of flange 9 toward the upper end of the channel. A wire 161 connects the levers 153 and 155. Lever 153 has a roller 163 for engaging the bottom shelf 15b, the arrangement being such that by swinging lever 157 down, lever 153 is raised to raise the shelf 15b.

Operation is as follows:

Assuming that all the shelves are latched in their raised horizontal article-carrying position as illustrated in Figs. l and 2 by engagement of the hooks 61 of the catches 53 with the lugs 77, the trips 55 of all the shelves, except the bottom shelf 15b, will occupy their retracted position such as is shown for the uppermost shelf 15t in Fig. 3. The trip for the bottom shelf will occupy its .operative position such as is shown for the trip in Fig. 5. It will be understood that each shelf will carry an article such as a bar of candy to be dispensed. Then, the first time the trip-operating bar 79 is rotated from its retracted position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 3 and then back to the retracted position, by pulling out the ejector bar 97 and pushing the bar 97 back inward, the bottom shelf 15b is released and swings downward to dispense the article thereon. Release of the shelf is effected upon ythe return of the trip-operating bar 79 through a position such as shown in Fig. 5 to a position such as shown in Fig. 6. When the bar 79 rotates in counterclockwise direction away from its retracted position, the bottom finger 89 thereon engages the lateral arm 65 of the trip 55Uof the bottom shelf, and rotates the trip in clockwise direction until the bottom finger 89 rides off the arm 65, whereupon the spring 75 returns the trip back to the Fig. 5 position. Now the bottom finger 89 is behind the trip arm 65, and when the bar 79 rotates back from the Fig. S position to the Fig. 6 position, the bottom fingerl 89 thereon rotates the trip counterclockwise from ,the Fig. 5 position to the Fig. 6 position. This counterclockwise rotation of the trip effects counterclockwise rotation of the catch 53 from the Fig. 5 position to the Fig. 6 posi- .tion by reason of the engagement of the portion 67 of the trip with the bottom arm 79 of the catch, thereby rotating the hook 61 of the `catch out of engagement with the lug 77 to free the shelf 15b so that it may fall downward under its own weight and the weight of the item thereon. None of the shelves above the bottom shelf are released, however, because their trips are in retracted position.

When the bottom shelf b is released and swings downward, the cam 91 on the back of the flange 19 of the bottom shelf moves away from the feeler 69 of the trip 55 of the second shelf. The trip 55 of the second shelf thereupon moves under the bias of spring 75 from its retracted position to its operative position. Then the next time the trip-operating bar 79 is rotated away from and back to its retracted position by pulling out and pushing in the ejector bar 97, the second shelf is released to swing downward and dispense the article thereon. The release of the second shelf is effected in the same manner as that above described for the bottom shelf, except that it is the second linger up on the tripoperating bar 97 that effects the release. None of the shelves above the second shelf are released, however, because their trips are in retracted position. When the second shelf is released, the trip 55 Aof the third shelf is released, and the next time the bar 79 is operated, the third shelf is released.

Thus, the shelves are successively released, starting with the lowermost shelf on up to the top shelf. When the top shelf is released and the magazine is empty,l the latch 139 slides down and locks the bar 97 against operation. To restore the shelves to raised position, the

lowermost shelf is raised by means of lever 157, then the remaining shelves are raised by lifting their forward ends. The pivoting of the shelves at the lower edgesl of flanges 19 favilitates the lifting of the shelves because it provides for the forward edge of a given shelf to project forward beyond the forward edge of the next shelf below when the latter is raised.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention `are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Article dispensing mechanism comprising a support, a plurality of shelves pivotally mounted on the support for swinging movement about horizontal axes located one above another and equally spaced, each shelf having a .downwardly'directed flange at one end constitutingits rearward end, the height of said flange corresponding Vto the spacing of the shelf axes, each shelf having its axis at the lower edge of the flange, each shelf having a catch movably mounted thereon at its rearward end on the back of its flange, means on the support engageable by the catches for holding the shelves each in a generally horizontal article-carrying position, and means located in the rear of the shelves in back of the flanges for successively operating the catches starting with the catch on the lowermost shelf successively to release the shelves starting with the lowermost shelf.

2. Article dispensing mechanism comprising a support, a plurality of shelves pivotally mounted on the support for swinging movement about horizontal axes located one above another and equally spaced, each shelf having a downwardly directed flange at one end constituting its rearward end, the height of said flange corresponding to the spacing of the shelf axes, each shelf having its axis `at the lower edge of the flange, each shelfy having a catch movably mounted thereon at its rearward end on ythe back of its flange, means on the support engageable by the catches for holding the shelves each in a generally horizontal article-carrying position, each shelf having a trip for its catch movably mounted thereon at its rearward end on the back of its flange, and means located in the rear of the shelves for successively operating the trips starting with the lowermosttrip successively to release the catches.

3. Article dispensing mechanism comprising a support, a plurality of shelves mounted on the support one above another, each shelf being pivoted at one end constituting its rearward end for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, each shelf having a catch movably mounted thereon at its rearward end, means on the support engageable by the catches for holding the shelves eachY in a generally horizontal article-carrying position, each shelf having a trip for its catch movably mounted thereon at its rearward end, means located in the rear of the shelves for operating the trips, each shelf, except the uppermost shelf, when held in its article-carrying position, engaging the trip of the next shelf above to hold this trip in a position clear of said trip-operating means, and the 4trip for each shelf being movable to a position for operation by said trip-operating means when the next shelf below is released.

4. Article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said trip-operating means comprises a movable bar extending vertically in the rear of the shelves.

5. Article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein each shelf has a downwardly directed flange at its rearward end and is pivoted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis at the lower edge of the flange,

and wherein the catches and trips are mounted on the backs ofthe anges. l 1

6. Article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein the trip-operating means comprises a bar extending vertically in the rear of fthe shelves and rotatable on a vertical axis.

7. Article dispensing mechanism ycomprising a support, a plurality of shelves mounted on the support one above another, each shelf being pivoted at one end constituting its rearward end for swinging movement aboutra horizontal axis, each-shelf having a catch pivotally mounted thereon at its rearward end, means on each shelf biasing the respective catch to a latching position, means on the support engageable by the catches when in latching position for holding the shelves each in a generally horizontal article-carrying position, each shelf having a trip for its catch pivotally mounted thereon at its rearward end, means on each shelf biasing the respective trip to an operative position, means located in the rear of the shelves for operating the trips, each shelf, except the-uppermost shelf, when held in its article-carrying position, engaging the trip of the next shelf above to hold this trip against its bias in a retracted position clear of said trip-operating means, and the trip for each shelf being movable to operative position for operation by said trip-operating means when the next shelf below is released.

8. Article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said trip-operating means comprises a bar extending `vertically in the rear ofthe shelves and rotatable on a vertical axis.

9. Article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bar is rotatable away from a retracted position and back to retracted position, said bar, in moving away from retracted position, engaging a trip in operaltiveposition and then riding oif Ythe `trip without operating the trip, and then engaging the trip and operating it on return to retracted position.

10. Article dispensing mechanism-as set forth in claim 7 wherein each shelf has a downwardly directed flange at its rearward end and is pivoted for swinging movement aboutra horizontal axis at the lower edgerof the flange, and wherein the catches and trips are pivotally mounted `on a common'pivot on the backs of the anges.

11. Article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim Y 10 wherein .said trip-operating means comprises a bar 13. Article dispensing mechanism comprising a magazine having vertical sides and being open at the front, a plurality of shelves each having a downwardly directed flange in a plane transverse to the shelf at one end constituting its rearward end, and means for removably mounting each shelf for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis transverse to said sides at the lower edge of the flange, said mounting means comprising a pair of hinge pins mounted on the back of the flange and received in holes in said magazine sides, at least one of said pins being retractible from its hole, and said flange having an 8 opening for access to said retractible pin from the front of the magazine.

' 14. Article dispensing mechanism comprising a magazine having vertical sides and being open at the front, a plurality of shelves each having a downwardly directed flange in a plane transverse to the shelf at one Vend constituting its rearward end, and means for removably Ymounting each shelf for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis transverse to said sides at the lower edge of the ange, said mounting means comprising a hinge member mounted on the back of the flange consisting of a spring wire formed to have a loop and hinge pin portions extending laterally outward from the ends of the loop, said ange having hinge eyes receiving said hinge pin portions, the latter being received in holes in said magazine sides, and said flange having an opening for access to said loop from the front of the magazine.

15. Article-dispensing mechanism comprising a magazine having side plates and being open at the front, a plurality of shelves 4mounted between the side plates one above another for pivotal movement about horizontal axes transverse to said plates, said axes being located toward the rear of the magazine and. spaced from the rear edges of the side plates, means located at the rear of the shelves for latching the shelves in a generally horizontal article-carrying position comprising a series of latches, one for each shelf, wholly located between the side plates in back of the shelves, said latches being mounted for movement independentlyl of one another and normally occupying a latching position for vholding Vthe shelvesin :said article-carrying position, and means located between the side plates in backrof the shelves for successively operating the latches successively Yto release the shelves starting with the lowermost shelf, said releasing means including a bar extending vertically in back of the shelves between the side plates and rotatable on a vertical axis.

16. Article-dispensing mechanism comprising a magazine having side plates and being open at the front, a plurality of shelves each having a downwardly directed flange atits rearward end and being mounted between the side plates one above another for pivotal movement about horizontal axes transverse to saidplates at the lower edges of the flanges, said axesV being located toward the rear of the magazine and spaced from the rear edges of the side plates, means located at the rear of the -shelves for latching ,the shelves in a generally horizontal article-carrying position comprising a series of latches, one for each shelf, wholly located between the side plates in back vof the shelves, said latches being mounted for movement independently of one another and normally occupying a latching position for holding the shelves inv said article-carrying position, and means located between the side plates in back ofthe shelves for successivelyroperating. the latches successively to release the shelves starting with the lowermost shelf, said releasing means including av bar extending vertically in back ofthe shelves between the side plates and rotatable on a verticalaxis.

References Cited in the le of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,672,236 Varndell June 5, 1928i 2,483,352 Settecasi Sept. 27, 1949' 2,565,766V lGabrielsen Aug. 28, 1951- M *mail I t 

